We make bas-relief panels at home. Wall decoration using bas-relief technique

Bas-relief is a type of sculptural decoration of premises and structures in the form of a convex up to half the volume above the plane of a convex image. It is made of materials suitable for carving, modeling or casting in molds (decorative plaster, alabaster, polystyrene, clay, wood). It is used as an element of interior design, for architectural decoration (decoration of friezes, pylons, vaults, fountains, capitals, facades).

The bas-relief on the wall made of plaster, putty, or other material can be subject or abstract, made in a classical, antique, modern or other style. A branchy tree, a baguette, a plaster flower on the wall will be a win-win solution, add harmony, liveliness, color to even the most unassuming, "modest" interior. Inaccessible to a wide circle in the past due to the high cost today, colorful or monochromatic protruding images have become achievable for anyone. Among the variety of possible options for decorating rooms, gypsum paintings have become super popular in recent years and have taken leading positions.

Such a drawing will perfectly decorate the wall.

Step-by-step production of a volumetric sketch

When wondering how to make bas-reliefs on the wall with their own hands, non-specialists mistakenly believe that the master glues industrially produced parts of a plaster miniature onto the plane. The creation of a bas-relief is the process of artistic modeling from plaster (other materials) directly on the wall with your own hands (by a master) or using the technique of producing blanks, free plastering, another method of parts of a future picture, followed by gluing "tiles" or parts of a miniature.

The procedure for the implementation of a bas-relief on the wall


Each bas-relief is unique and individual. It is impossible even for an experienced master to create two identical sketches, even from one drawing.


Each drawing is unique in itself, it is impossible to repeat it

What you need to make an alabaster miniature

You can do the bas-relief on the plaster wall with your own hands. To implement the project, the following minimum skills are required:

    Painting;

    preparation of solutions;

    production of stencils;

    creation of wire structures.


To create such a pattern, you will need experience and knowledge in the field of construction.

The formation of a bas-relief requires knowledge of the properties of mixtures (setting time, the possibility of adding dyes, determining the optimal thickness of the solution for different works) from which the image will be performed. It should be borne in mind that when working with a layer of 10 millimeters or more, it is necessary to make a skeleton of wire, which prevents cracking of the gypsum.


In order not to contact the master, you can use the molds

To complete you will need:

    drawing (in natural size);

    a pair of round + the same number of flat paint brushes, a thin nylon brush (for children) for drawing;

    lead pencil, felt-tip pen or marker;

    masking tape;

    stencils of the required thickness;

    container for diluting the batch;

    special tools for creating reliefs (palette knife);

    the materials from which the matrix will be made (for example, silicone) and the mixture for the bas-relief;

    paints, color scheme (colored bas-reliefs);

    confectionery (for thick lines) or medical syringe (for the design of the finest veins);

    sustainable reliable forests (goats).

With the help of hinges, stacks, cutters, excess mortar is removed, the edges are trimmed, individual elements are created, and the details are given the desired shape layer by layer. When creating a bas-relief on the wall with your own hands, the tools are dipped in water to remove residues in order to avoid the appearance of streaks and other unwanted contaminants. At the end of the work, all tools are washed. The syringe is disassembled, cleaned, dried.


All work must be done carefully and according to recommendations.

Step-by-step guide to performing the etude "grapevine"

Consider how to form a bas-relief on the wall with your own hands using the example of the production of an image of a grape vine with a bunch of curly leaves. The work is carried out by the method of execution of various parts from an alabaster mixture, followed by their fastening to the wall. Berries and leaves are cast into forms, an ornate stem and antennae are drawn by hand. In the production of large heavy parts, a wire skeleton is used to reinforce and facilitate fastening to the wall.

    The first stage in creating a do-it-yourself volumetric bas-relief on the wall is to complete the composition in full size and transfer the outlines to the place of the future picture. The sketch is transferred by drawing on the film (performed with a marker). A thin layer of base is applied to the prepared wall. The polyethylene cloth is placed in the required space and fixed, the contours of the sketch are outlined. The sample is removed and the outline remains on the surface. The contours are also transferred to the dry plane. In this case, after fixing the film from above, its edge rises, and the lines are drawn with an ordinary slate pencil.

    First of all, you need to draw a sketch of the picture.

    The second item in the execution of the bas-relief is making a mold for leaves and grape berries. Consider the execution of a matrix made of a sealant with a filler (talc / starch). Filler is poured onto the board and kneaded with a sealant like a regular dough. The object of the corresponding shape (oval or ball) and size is pressed into the resulting material. After the silicone has solidified, the sample is removed. It turns out a matrix for the formation of berries. For the sheets, you can use a factory-made silicone / polyurethane matrix, or make a template yourself using the above method. A sample of the shape of the leaves for the bas-relief is molded from plasticine or salt dough.

    Forms can be made for leaves and berries

    The third point is stirring the composition and casting individual plaster elements. For pouring into molds, a solution is made from one part of water and two parts of gypsum. Water is taken at room temperature. Other ingredients (sand, plaster, etc.) are not used when mixing the alabaster composition for the bas-relief. The dry gypsum powder is gradually added to the water with constant moderate stirring (to avoid the formation of lumps). It is not recommended to stir the solution intensively. The mixture will be enriched with oxygen, and the part will come out with air bubbles. The products are removed after the final solidification of the gypsum.

    With the help of molds, you can make a very beautiful drawing.

    The fourth stage is the preparation of the plane and the gluing of the separate elements to the bas-relief. The plane is covered with satengypsum or acrylic putty, then reinforced with the chosen method. Berries and leaves are attached by gluing (indenting) finished parts at the points indicated in the sketch. For fastening heavy elements, wire (steel) with a diameter of 2-3 mm is used.

    The fifth step is the execution of the stem and antennae. It is carried out on a bas-relief with a syringe for decorating cakes. Especially fine lines are made with a medical syringe without a needle.

    Leaves and berries can be made with a cake syringe or regular

    The last item is the finishing of the bas-relief. Staining is carried out with specialized paints for stucco molding (thin halftones are obtained by shading). Bright accents in the bas-relief are made with acrylic paints. Then it is done by covering the paintings in the previously indicated way.

A bird, a butterfly on the wall near a bunch or leaf will diversify and decorate the sketch, give it individuality and special charm. If the miniature is made from separate parts, all the connection points are carefully sealed, smoothed and sanded to obtain the effect of a single canvas.


At the end, the drawing must be treated with protective equipment.

Modeling on the walls using a stencil

If you need to create a bas-relief with a repeating fragment (for example, a flower, curl, leaf), the simplest method would be to work with stencils. Anyone can cope with such an artistic decoration of the room. Even someone who has never been able to draw will construct a unique artistic sculpting without much effort and special skills. The pattern is printed on a conventional printer. The template is made on a suitable material by cutting out those elements that need to be applied to the wall. You can buy factory stencils for the bas-relief on the wall. They are offered in a large assortment in hardware stores.


You can apply a drawing using a stencil

The template is fixed in any convenient way (for example, with masking tape). Empty spaces are filled with thick alabaster or other mortar (the thicker the stencil, the thicker the kneading is done) with a cliché-thick layer and left to dry completely. If, during the separation, uneven edges are obtained, they are sanded with fine sandpaper. Subsequent processing is carried out in a manner common to all methods.


The template for the picture can be fixed in any way

From all that has been said above, we can conclude that everyone can execute a beautiful, bright and eye-catching outstanding drawing on the wall with their own hands. Self-creation of a bas-relief in your own home is an incomparable pleasure in the process and a unique decorative element as a result. It is worth setting a goal and the interior of an apartment, house or public institution (cafe, restaurant, clinic, etc.) will acquire its own unique atmosphere.

Video: How to make a bas-relief with your own hands

Video: Master class. Flower bas-relief

Rejection of generally accepted clichés, design of your home in such a way that it is unique, adding a special zest to it is not just a fashion trend, but a completely justified and natural expression of a person's individuality. A truly exclusive decoration will be a bas-relief in the interior, and you can create it yourself.

The royal palace, castle, ancestral estate of an influential family - this is where bas-reliefs could be most often found in the past. This was caused by the complexity and high cost of creation. Gradually, the fashion for them came to naught, but now, with the advent of inexpensive and affordable materials, these decorative ornaments are experiencing a rebirth, perfectly combining with a wide variety of styles in the apartment.

Features of bas-reliefs

Several features of the bas-reliefs that distinguish them favorably against the background of other types of interior decorations:

  1. This decorative element can be made from any material (papier-mâché, gypsum, decorative plaster, polystyrene, metal, etc.), which is sufficiently plastic or suitable for pouring into a mold.
  2. Modern bas-reliefs are easy to perform and install, are lightweight and affordable, but if they are made of natural materials (wood, stone), then at a considerable price they look really unique, extraordinary and exclusive.
  3. The subject of the image is chosen based on the tastes and needs of the customer; it can be antique, semi-antique, neutral or emphasized modern.
  4. In addition to visual appeal, such decorative elements will help to hide communications, defects, and uneven surfaces.

Bas-relief as an element of the interior

Bas-reliefs will help to dilute the dullness and monotony of the monochromatic surfaces of the walls and ceiling, especially when the addition of decorative elements or additional paints is undesirable.

Even the simplest bas-relief drawing will enliven the surrounding space if you can choose the right lighting.

A universal solution for all styles when decorating walls and ceilings is the branches and trunk of a tree or an abstract pattern that can fill the wall without overloading the space.

A bas-relief can be created in several ways:

  • by sculpting directly on the wall surface;
  • by making individual elements with subsequent fastening to the wall;
  • in the form of a volumetric picture made on a solid base (for example, on a gypsum fiber sheet).

New bas-reliefs

In 2014 Applico presented a novelty in the world of finishing materials. New bas-reliefs in the interior are flexible slabs of different sizes with colored or monochrome patterns applied to them. Their distinctive features:

  • the ability to mount on a surface of any shape;
  • excellent noise and thermal insulation properties;
  • flexibility of plates;
  • bio-, thermal and moisture resistance;
  • safety for humans and the environment.

Slabs are mounted on the walls, according to the numbering indicated on them, they are fixed with a special adhesive.

A photo of the new-bas-relief is presented below:

Bas-relief painting

As we already mentioned, the materials for creating bas-reliefs can be different. But beginners are advised to start with plaster mixed with plaster. Do not worry, even the simplest plaster molding will ennoble the room, giving it elegance and solemnity.

The simplest variety of a volumetric decor element for self-creation is a bas-relief painting. The advantages of such a product:

  • for this type of bas-relief, you do not need to prepare a wall;
  • there is no fear of failure: if the picture does not work out, you can postpone the work for a while or abandon the venture altogether, the decoration in the room will not be spoiled;
  • a bas-relief in the form of a picture at any time can be moved to another place, taken with you to a new place of residence.

Stages of self-creation of a painting using the technique of bas-relief

  • At the same stage, we determine the size of the future bas-relief and its location.

It should be understood that the larger the size of the image, the more space is needed to "read" it; on small stucco moldings the decor will be correspondingly smaller, more detailed, and will require greater skill.

  • We prepare a sheet of gypsum board or gypsum plasterboard, draw on it a sketch of the future volumetric picture.
  • We knead the gypsum plaster and apply it with a palette knife - a special painting spatula - on the work surface. You can form parts with palette knives of various shapes, fingers, brushes. There may be several layers of material, the main thing is to wait until the previous one dries.
  • After drying, the surface of the bas-relief is sanded with fine sandpaper and primed.
  • If desired, the bas-relief can be painted, subjected to an artificial aging procedure, and given an antique look.

Before deciding to paint a barrelf, think carefully: beginners in most cases are disappointed with the results of this stage, since it requires special skills and knowledge. In addition, a white or only slightly tinted bas-relief in most cases looks much better than a product painted in different colors.

empstenup/ February 14, 2016 / /

Finishing work can always be done by yourself. This applies not only to situations when you just want to save money on the services of specialists. Our master class will help you to make a bas-relief on the wall with your own hands with high quality.

In the video, in addition to the master class, you will see many tips and important points from a professional. Be sure to take a look so as not to make mistakes.

Drawing a picture

To complete the work, you will need the following tools: wallpaper glue, high quality primer. First, you need to remove all the old coatings from the wall on which you plan to apply the image. Next, we carry out drying and priming. First, make a pencil sketch on the wall. It is not recommended for beginners to immediately start applying complex pictures.


Tropical vegetation and birds of paradise are suitable for practicing skills. You can use the cell augmentation technique if the skills are practically absent. We draw into squares both the section of the wall itself and the drawing. We transfer all lines gradually, in turn. The main thing is to remember what scale of the image is chosen, even if we are talking about small details.


Relief creation

Spatulas made of rubber and metal will help to completely clean the future work surface. And the drawing itself must be covered with the so-called polymer putty. It is necessary to fill certain areas with plastic mass. This is not so difficult to do. The main thing here is the ability to give the material the desired relief, convexity according to all the rules. It is necessary to start with a rough application of the putty. Then you have to wait a bit until the future drawing dries up. At the next stage, we correct the shapes and details. The same material is used for anti-aliasing.


The bas-relief on the wall with your own hands is carefully processed with sandpaper after it has finally hardened. An excellent solution is the use of fine and medium fractions. A large one is also needed, but it is used when it is necessary to bring the finished form to perfection.

Bas-relief types

The most popular materials are clay and gypsum, wood and marble... Casting from bronze or alabaster is a more difficult option. It requires professionalism and a certain skill. Only a master can handle the job.


The images themselves also become important factors for categorization. Ornamental type involves drawing patterns. It is not so difficult to make them. Subject pictures are a higher class of pictures. There are other varieties as well. For example, multi-faceted compositions, a flattened class, and images with animals are highlighted. The best drawing for a particular room will be created by a master.


Each of the groups has its own characteristics. Additionally, various effects are created. Plaster images of birds and plants, fruits and flowers can often be seen. Pictures with people and other conventions are also found, but they are more often acquired in finished form, rather than made on their own. They are either attached to the walls or inserted into special niches.

Features of drawing

There are certain rules for creating a composition. These conditions can be fulfilled not only by the master, but also by the beginner.

  • A frame is assembled from materials.
  • The whole form is covered with cling film or polyethylene. The main thing is that the flooring remains level. Wrinkles should be removed wherever possible.
  • The solution is poured into the mold and wait for it to dry.
  • The contours of the pattern are applied using incisors. The tool must be of a suitable shape.

It is necessary to prepare the surface if the drawing is applied to it immediately. Old coatings, contamination must be completely absent. The primer is applied when the wall is perfectly level. This also needs to be done carefully.

You can sketch future images while the material dries. Printing drawings piece by piece on a printer is a great option for transferring small parts. Each of the parts is transferred to a special film. Contour lines are drawn as soon as the surface is ready. This helps to bring the whole composition together.

Relief creation

After the form has completely dried and the contour is applied, this stage is started if the panel is created separately from the wall. The volume is increased from the newly prepared mixture. Apply several layers, wait until they dry. The background is leveled and sanded when the required depth is reached.



In two stages, create a relief when drawing on the wall. First, make a draft. Then the required elements are filled with the mixture. Excess trimmings are removed. After that, the rough layer should dry out a little. Then small elements are finalized.

Installation of a bas-relief (in stages)

On the wall, a previously prepared picture is attached with wallpaper or tile glue. Apply it to tiles and walls at the same time. Self-tapping screws or nails help to cope with particularly heavy structures. It is important that they protrude only 2/3 of the width.
The recessed wall method is the best solution if the structure weighs too much. The panel can be placed in a special niche. Seams must be plastered and primed.

The following is done with bas-reliefs made directly on the wall:

  • We carefully plaster the bas-relief, when he's ready. The material class does not matter.

  • We carefully clean all seams and depressions from dust. The process requires a responsible approach and care.

  • Priming the bas-relief using a special brush.

  • The relief is covered with paint representing a high class.

The best solution is water-based varieties. White paint is suitable if you do not intend to use several colors at once. It also handles protruding elements.

2Video about creating a bas-relief


Bas-relief work (28 photos)









When watching TV shows or videos, many are fascinated by the unusual stucco molding that adorns the walls of various rooms. Today, man-made bas-reliefs are no longer limited to the category of luxury, and they can be found not only in historical buildings, theaters and chic mansions. Most owners of apartments and private houses successfully use this decor element in their own interiors.

Surface preparation - mix the solution and sculpt the background

Any living space needs individuality. In this regard, do-it-yourself bas-reliefs have an indisputable advantage: their sizes and shapes are not limited, materials for their manufacture are sold in any hardware store at an affordable price, and their production is a creative and very entertaining process.

First of all, let's select a section of the wall to decorate. Pay attention to its illumination, whether it will be natural light from a window or artificial lighting is needed, because it is the play of light and shadows that visually increase the volume and emphasize the texture of the image.

Now let's pick up sketches and decide on the size of the image. Of course, a scene from a hunt or a reproduction of Michelangelo's famous paintings in your living room would look great, but you are unlikely to be able to translate them into reality, so you should start with small elements, including floral ornaments, geometric shapes, or even simpler some details of abstraction.

For work we need:

  • Rubber gloves;
  • Trowel;
  • Putty knife;
  • Wide flat brush;
  • Palette knife;
  • Cling film.

Before starting work, the surface must be prepared: the old coating is removed from the wall section, leveled, if necessary, plastered and must be covered with a layer of primer for better adhesion of materials. The wall is left to dry completely.

Stucco molding is made from clay, alabaster, gypsum or plaster mixtures based on it. The recipe for the preparation of a gypsum solution is 1.5 kg of gypsum per 1 liter of water. For plasticity, a little PVA glue is added to it and everything is thoroughly mixed. It is easy to form a future bas-relief from the resulting soft "test", but one should start with the main background. Usually these are surfaces with some texture. For example, a few random brush strokes on wet plaster or the movement of a paint roller will leave original marks.

A good background for a bas-relief will be an imitation of brick or masonry, a small "sandy" pattern left by an ordinary sponge, or a textured surface of deliberately rough plastering. If the bas-relief is planned not in the form of a panel, but as a separate protruding element, then the wall around it must first be pasted over with masking tape to protect it from contamination.

We start sculpting - create a sketch and add volume

When our sculptural "canvas" is ready, the main drawing can be transferred to it. In this case, a thicker solution is needed, namely, for 1 liter of water we now take 2 kg of gypsum. The finished mixture should not spread over the hands and hold well the shape given to it.

In stucco, the easiest place to start is with plant elements. When planning a vine, you need to mark the location of the branch, leaves on it and a large berry cluster. Whether it will be an image of a flower, a silhouette of a tree or part of an architectural column, it is important to respect the scale of all elements of the image relative to each other. If you do not know how to draw, then you can use the prepared stencils or make a sketch of the picture on a transparent film, copying it, for example, from the monitor screen. To draw a tree, you just need to highlight a suitable branch with a flashlight and trace the shadow obtained on the wall along the contour.

Next, we move on to the most difficult and crucial stage - we add volume to the drawn sketch. The mixture, which is intended for stucco molding, should be very plastic and not harden quickly, since it should be applied in several stages, allowing each layer to dry out. With this in mind, it is best to prepare small portions of the solution and use them right away.

If it is assumed that the bas-reliefs made of plaster and putty will be voluminous, then their most protruding parts are recommended to be additionally reinforced by screwing self-tapping screws into the wall or fixing an ordinary plaster bandage on it with a stapler. Separate volumetric figures can be created using cardboard and foam blanks, which are attached to the wall and coated with a mixture.

You can add texture to plant elements using their natural counterparts with a clear pattern of veins - tightly attach a leaf of grapes, maple or even a houseplant you like to the mixture, remove the excess putty around with a spatula or an ordinary knife, forming a clear edge. Leave the element to dry for several hours and remove the remnants of the leaves.

For such "prints" or as a decorative element of a bas-relief, you can use other handy items: burlap, shells, decorative stones, etc.

Convex parts can also be cast from plaster using a prepared plasticine mold and liquid gypsum mortar. Items such as berries, protruding flower petals or a tree branch are best hand-sculpted from alabaster (prepared by following the instructions on the package), and then attached to the wall by pressing firmly and smearing on all sides.

"Free" plastering - a simple method of obtaining decorative elements

A simple and affordable way to obtain volumetric parts is "free" plastering. It is usually used to create compositions from ornate patterns created from plaster-impregnated paper napkins, as well as to form floral and vegetable bas-reliefs. This method is available even for beginners, as long as you choose the right materials and combine them harmoniously.

For "free" gypsum, architectural gypsum is best suited, from which a slurry is prepared. For mixing, you can use a construction mixer, a regular kitchen mixer, or do it by hand. So, for 1 kg of gypsum, take 0.7 liters of water. To prevent lumps from forming, it is the dry material that is added to the water, and not vice versa, and it is better gradually, in small portions, thoroughly mixing each time. To make the solution more plastic, and the finished bas-reliefs do not crack, it is recommended to add a little PVA glue diluted with water to it. In the final version, the solution should be homogeneous and be close to liquid sour cream in consistency.

Sprigs of plants, buds, elastic inflorescences of natural or artificial flowers are dipped into this composition, and paper napkins are also impregnated with them. The resulting workpiece is placed on a flat surface covered with plastic wrap and left to dry. Flowers and paper elements must be laid as they will be fixed in the interior. This will form a flat base on each part, which will then be attached to the wall. After complete drying (not less than a day later), the workpieces are again dipped in the gypsum mixture and placed again in the same position to dry. Repeat this procedure until a 1.5 mm thick layer of gypsum forms on the elements.

Finished parts are attached to the wall using thick acrylic plaster or PVA glue. In order to finally fix the finished composition and give it a monolithic look, the entire relief is coated with a brush with a thick plaster solution, paying special attention to the joints of the attached elements. Today, you can learn the basics of sculptural craft just by sitting in front of a monitor screen. It is easy to find a suitable master class on the Internet, successfully master the first lessons, and eventually take up pictures.

The best material for such modeling is considered to be a gypsum mixture based on PVA glue. The mass should turn out to be elastic and thick, like soft plasticine. Now you can remember your kindergarten experience and try to mold a cherry, a flower, or even a bee. No need to be upset if the piece of art you didn’t work out. You can use ready-made forms - buy in a creative store, or take a silicone baking dish or ordinary figures from a children's sandbox. In this case, a gypsum mixture of sour cream density is poured into a prepared mold and left to harden. The resulting molding is removed and glued to the wall at a specific place in the composition.

Finishing - we clean, paint, protect from moisture

At the end of the work, all the roughness on the resulting panel should be smoothed out. The best way to do this is to use a small piece of fine-grained sandpaper. Proceed carefully without unnecessary pressure so as not to destroy the necessary textured elements. Sometimes, after such treatment, other imperfections appear - small cracks, irregularities or small dimples left over from air bubbles. Now is the time to finally grease and fill everything.

The finished bas-relief on the wall is thoroughly cleaned of gypsum dust and crumbs and must be treated with a primer. Now you can start decorating the image. Most often, acrylic paints and tint colors are used for this. To paint the bas-relief in different colors, apply restrained two-tone halftones, or stop at a pristine white color - it's up to you, it all depends on the stylistic performance of the panel and, of course, on your desire.

And finally, a protective coating such as a water repellent, acrylic wax or varnish is applied to the stucco molding. Such protection is especially important for bas-reliefs in rooms with high humidity, for example, in kitchens, bathrooms, unheated corridors.

Let's take a look at the most popular techniques step by step.

Believe me, this is much easier than you think! But first, we will explain some technical points regarding materials.

What to make a bas-relief from? Materials, tools

Let's make a reservation right away: step-by-step technologies and a complete list of all components will be indicated below, in the corresponding section.

First, we list only the main things you need to have:

  • Alabaster;
  • PVA glue;
  • Finishing putty;
  • Water.

This is the basis of the basics, but the auxiliary materials already depend on the type of drawings, which we will deal with here and now.

The most solid bas-reliefs emerge from the alabaster mass cast into molds.

Depending on the type of the latter, you can get absolutely any configuration of the convex pattern: fruits, flowers, shells and even classic capitals.

The main thing here is just to find a suitable shape, and the rest is just little things. Pouring plaster is not difficult at all.

These are the decor elements that can be made in an hour. This is a nautical theme, and you are free to choose whatever you like.

These shells are poured with ordinary children's pies for sand and attached to drywall sheets. And the framing of the frame is made with ready-made foam plastic baguettes, which are usually attached to the joint between the ceiling and the wall.

Nothing complicated, it seems. Plaster is full in hardware stores. But where can you get a good shape?

Here you will have to upset, the choice is not so great: it is not enough to find a sample that is just visually suitable in appearance, you also need the material to withstand the heating of the gypsum during solidification.

Yes, yes, it warms up quite strongly and expands! Therefore, molds for making soap, for example, will not work. They will just burst and that's it, since they are made of too thin plastic, not of the best quality.

You need something more substantial, such as the same plastic beads, or even better - silicone for baking. He is not afraid of any metamorphosis of the material, since it is designed for both high heating and tension.

And most importantly, it is much easier to remove the finished product from it than from something hard.

We have superficially dealt with this type of bas-relief with our own hands, and we will give you a detailed description of the process below, in the appropriate sub-heading. There you will also find a complete list of the necessary materials and devices for each type of do-it-yourself paintings.

But besides the casting, there is other versions.

For example, a bas-relief from ready-made plaster figurines! Such a picture looks extremely expensive, but its final price cannot but rejoice.

Panels with various Greek mythical characters look especially beautiful, for example, Aphrodite or little angels.

If you take these ladies from plaster, not marble, then such a purchase will not hit your pocket. But this is not all the options!

You can make a very cute arrangement using ordinary fabric flowers, the types of which are innumerable in gift shops. In addition, cones and other suitable shapes can be used. It will look like this:

The gypsum bas-relief can be made removable, like an ordinary painting, or it can be made monolithic, as one piece with the wall, as you have already seen in the upper drawing with shells.

And if you know how to draw, then it will not be difficult for you to make a volumetric drawing straight from the putty, without using any aids and forms. But for this you need to have an artistic taste and the most elementary modeling skills. Here's what you can get:

Or even so, but for this you need to be a master.

Here, in fact, are all the methods available to almost everyone. And now let's get down to specifics and we will finally start doing, not dreaming!

Making a mold for casting plaster

If you can find a shape for everyone - different shells, fruits and bugs - and there is no point in making it, then for some details, such as grapes, it is easier to make the base yourself than to try to find it.

Of course, you can not cast them, but roll them out of putty, but it will look a little worse, since this material is more porous when it dries.

In general, with a certain skill, you can make any shape you want using ready-made figurines. Bought one, and then poured at least ten! And if you want to give them, if you want to make a panel ...

Well, let's get started. If we are talking about casting grapes, then you need to first roll it out of a thick putty mass mixed with PVA glue, in the proportion:

  • Finishing putty - 0.5 kg;
  • PVA glue - 1 tbsp;
  • Water - 100 grams.

We knead the thick mass, pouring water gradually. Since we gave its amount approximately, because it can differ significantly in application with different types of putty.

After mixing, mold the grape and put it to dry for about a day. It should not burst, since the mass with the addition of PVA becomes quite resistant to cracking.

By the way, on the same top picture with shells, you can see the wall below, finished using the technique of decorative strokes. So they need to be made with just such a mixture, based on PVA.

Well, is the grape dry? Let's make a shape. For this we need:

  • 0.5 liters of silicone;
  • Plywood box;
  • Self-tapping screws;
  • Brush.

Liquid silicone is sold in hardware stores, and you can pick up any box, you will put a grape in it and fill it with a silicone mixture.

The main thing is that it can be easily disassembled, and then reassembled on self-tapping screws, and the gaps are covered with a mixture of silicone. This is necessary so that you can then easily, without damaging, pull out the finished form. If you can't find a suitable box, you can assemble it from plywood sheets.

We will show you step-by-step photos using the example of filling a figurine, and you can already put anything there. It is important to understand the sequence here, and that's all. And the amount of silicone may be different. For a grape you need 100 grams, and for the owl shown below, already 1 liter.

So:


And now let's move on to the most interesting, the formation of figures from alabaster with our own hands.

How to make alabaster mixture for bas-reliefs

If you are using silicone molds, you do not need to lubricate them with anything. But if you pour gypsum into a plastic paste, then you need to thoroughly lubricate it with sunflower oil.

We do the filling mixture like this:

  • 2 parts plaster
  • 1 part water

Pour the powder into the water gradually, stirring constantly, avoiding the formation of lumps.

It is not necessary to stir too intensely, there is no point, you will only oversaturate the substance with oxygen and the finished figurine may be covered with bubbles.

Then pour it into the chosen shape, flush with its edge. And you rest for about a day.

In general, plaster sets much earlier. But the longer the figure stays in shape, the stronger it will be and the chance of damaging it by taking it out will be zero.

We fix the bas-relief on the wall

Now the finished composition needs to be fixed on the wall or on a piece of drywall if you want to make a removable bas-relief. In any case, they are attached in the same way. You can attach them with liquid silicone or a simple putty.

The main thing here is this: to cover up the cracks between the wall (drywall) and the figurine, so that it comes out as a single conglomerate. This can also be done with putty.

If there are any irregularities, they must be carefully removed with an abrasive tape. And then you cover the finished painting with water-based paint in a couple of layers.

Pure white compositions on the same background look best, this is a classic version. But you can paint in whatever colors you want, but only then, on top of a layer of white paint.

Bas-relief based on molded forms

And here we will already list everything that may be needed for this particular type of panel:

  • Alabaster mix
  • Forms
  • Drywall base (if it is supposed according to your idea)
  • Putty (or silicone glue)
  • Water-based paint

We have already written above how to make alabaster mixture, therefore, we will not repeat ourselves, it is better to give you some important recommendations regarding the process.

If you have come up with any composition, then do not rush to immediately glue the elements on the wall.

Better to lay them out on the floor first and see if they look good. After all, several times to remove and glue the workpieces again is not good, they will get dirty and then you will need more layers of paint.

In addition to the elements poured into shapes, you can add various materials to your composition. For example, if you are making a picture with shells, then you can glue ordinary rubble on the wall and paint it white. This will add volume and the picture will look much more interesting.

Bas-relief from ready-made figurines

You will need:

  • Picture frame;
  • Profile;
  • Self-tapping screws;
  • Drywall;
  • Putty;
  • Silicone glue;
  • Statuette;
  • Choice of decorative elements;
  • Water-based paint.

Panels with antique figures must be done within some framework. You can't just hang it on the wall, it will look ugly. What can you do?

You can fix the picture frame right on the wall, level the inside with it with putty, forming a single whole, then attach a pedestal for the statue (for this it is convenient to use a profile sheathed with plasterboard), which you also putty.

Then put the figurine on the glue and again go through all the cracks to make the view cast. You can add various elements to the space in the frame: pebbles, shells, columns (you can buy them in the pet supply departments, there are many different decorations for aquariums in the form of castles and other suitable beauty style).

And then just paint over everything, including the frame. If necessary, not even two, but three layers. It's nice that this do-it-yourself bas-relief looks just amazing, but in fact, for beginners it is quite a feasible task.

Bas-relief - painting from putty

You will need:

  • Putty mixture for PVA;
  • Water-based paint;
  • Artistic talent.

And here everything is already in your hands, moreover, in the literal sense of the word. There is no special technique that can be given and everyone will perform it, even without the skill.

The only thing we can say is that you need to make a bas-relief with your own hands from putty in stages.

If you put a large piece on the wall right away, it just won't hold. The pattern is formed gradually, building up as it dries. And of course, use a PVA-based mix recipe.

Cover the finished panel with paint and you can invite guests to boast!

Bas-relief of rag flowers

You will need:

  • Fabric flowers or spruce cones
  • Liquid alabaster mix
  • Silicone glue
  • Water-based paint

The alabaster mixture needs to be made a little thinner than for filling the figures. You dip the blanks in it and leave them to dry. When they dry, then dip a second time so that the figure acquires a uniform and monolithic color.

Then you attach them to the wall with glue, and it is easier to paint them from a spray can, with matte paint. Since they are quite fluffy and fiddling with a brush is not very convenient in this case.

Such flowers do not oblige too much to adhere to a strictly defined interior style. For example, if you are doing Aphrodite, then you need to duplicate the columns or a Greek fresco somewhere.

And in this case, everything will be in harmony: bas-reliefs, any paintings on the walls, any design of kitchen furniture, framed photos, etc.

In conclusion: how to care for bas-reliefs

No matter how much PVA interferes, a homemade bas-relief, sooner or later, begins to lose its appearance. Gaps are formed between it and the wall, and this is normal. You only need to occasionally cover up the cracks and tint these places.

So that is all! You know how to make a bas-relief with your own hands from plaster, and there is little to do: start acting.